Vickery calls for 'more clinical' England

England forward Phil Vickery has delivered a chilling message to Scotland's Calcutta Cup camp by declaring: "We need to be more clinical".

The world champions have arrived in Edinburgh, targeting a fourth successive victory over their oldest international rival.

While there was a degree of satisfaction with last weekend's 50-9 win that got their RBS 6 Nations campaign off to a flying start in Italy, England's imperious standards and eye for detail meant that they fell a little short.

"If you had said to me before last weekend that we were going to beat Italy 50-9, then I would have bitten your hand off," said Vickery, who wins his 40th cap.

"The press hyped it up to be a fantastic performance, but if you're honest and truthful with yourselves, then you kind of knew it wasn't.

"Italy made four line breaks. Against France, that would be four tries, and that's not being disrespectful to the Italians, but in a big game, the reality is that you're struggling.

"Teams are now going out and having a go, and with this world champions tag we've got around our necks, people are going to raise their games and are going to want to beat us.

"We need to be more clinical. We missed a couple of lineouts in Rome due to calls, and some of the communication didn't quite come through on a couple of plays. It's all the little things, but in big games, they make a massive difference.

"We set high standards, and sometimes we can get a little bit over-critical, but we all know what it takes to do well and compete in these games. If you've got ambitions to win the thing, then we know what levels we have got to reach," he added.

"The press will have been saying this week that there is no way England are going to lose against Scotland - it will be the same old stuff. But I know, Scotland against England at Murrayfield on the day, then anything can happen.

"Scotland have got some quality players. They will be disappointed with the Wales game last weekend, and the only way they can change that is this weekend against England.

What a perfect opportunity - at home, against the world champions.

"Everyone wants the Six Nations to be competitive, and want it to be a close-fought race, and I think that it is going to be this year."

Vickery's scrum battle opposite his fellow Lion and Scotland loosehead Tom Smith will go a long way towards settling that particular set-piece area.

Respect is mutual, with Vickery claiming: "Tom's a great bloke. I shared a room with him on the 2001 Lions trip to Australia for a few weeks.

"He's a top player, he's a warrior and he is proud of his country. If you're not on your game, then he'll punish you. He's very consistent."

And Vickery knows all about Scotland punishing England, such as the 2000 Grand Slam game when Duncan Hodge's try helped the Scots to a famous victory and produced one equally memorable newspaper headline - 'Battlers 19, Bottlers 13.'

As on that occasion, England will be without their legendary World Cup captain Martin Johnson, whose retirement from international rugby last month has put an onus on other leaders within the team to take added responsibility.

"Johnno is not here any more, and as disappointed as I am, it's not going to change anything," said Vickery.

"At least now, you can't think to yourself it will be all right next week because he's going to be back.

"People will step forward and will step up, but you just don't replace guys like that overnight, if you could ever replace them.

"We are in an environment, with the England team, where time isn't available. You've got to go out and perform, or someone else will come in.

"I know, in my position, there's Julian (White), young Matt Stevens coming through, and Jason (Leonard). If you don't perform, then that's the end - it is the reality.

"It is the same as most jobs. If you don't hit your targets and produce the goods, there is always someone behind you prepared to step in and do it."